The 28th year of Qiansheng, early spring, Kangdu County in the suburbs of the capital.

The Rou River system was well-connected, a vital waterway connecting east and west, and a thoroughfare for north-south travel. Queshan Jin Boat Crossing in Kangdu County was the closest boat crossing to the Great Zhou Dynasty's capital, Jade Capital. This spring, the river had just opened for the season, the floating ice had only just melted, and the water was still cold and turbulent. Yet, the boats on the wharf were already coming and going ceaselessly. Travelers from all directions flowed north into Jade Capital via the official road, and large quantities of goods were transferred from here to the major prefectures of the north. The hustle and bustle of carriages and horses never ceased, day or night, lending this small suburban county a prosperity that rivaled the wealthy regions of the south.

From between two parallel passenger ships, a small boat as nimble as a flying shuttle shot out, cutting through the waves as it headed for the shore. A green-canopied carriage was already waiting at the dock. The young lad driving it jumped down, waved his hand high at the boat, and shouted, “Young Master, over here!”

The small boat moored at the dock. A youth in black clothes emerged from the cabin and stepped onto the shore in two strides using the gangplank. His face was hidden under a bamboo hat and couldn't be seen clearly, but his height was conspicuous. His figure was exceptionally slender and upright, making him stand out like a crane among the flock of travel-worn merchants. A light ink-colored brocade robe swirled open and closed with his steps, and a leather belt cinched a lean, narrow waist. His every move naturally possessed a controlled power, both graceful and ethereal, causing one's eyes to brighten involuntarily.

The young driver attentively took his personal luggage and hurried to lift the carriage curtain for him, but suddenly, his vision went black, completely covered by the bamboo hat thrown by the youth in black. The man didn't need his assistance and seated himself in the carriage, saying lazily, “Jiang Hai, stop fussing, let's go.”

As the master and servant pair finished their preparations and were about to depart, the two passenger ships left behind by the small boat slowly pulled ashore. The large ships sat very low in the water; one look told you it was a big job. The idle men and laborers on the dock immediately swarmed forward, vying to solicit business. Amidst the hubbub, a clamor of urgent footsteps and horse hooves suddenly sounded from behind, drawing nearer. Yamen runners cleared the way with their staffs, shouting loudly, “The County Magistrate is passing through! All idlers, stand aside!”

The procession of the Kangdu County Magistrate brushed past the green-canopied carriage. The young servant named Jiang Hai cast several curious glances and muttered, “Hoh, the County Magistrate is personally coming out of the city to welcome them? What's the background of that ship behind?”

His voice was higher-pitched than that of an ordinary man, just like a young palace eunuch. Hearing this, the youth in black inside the carriage hooked open the curtain with one hand, glanced back, and said casually, “That's the delegation from Hengfang Country of the West Sea, here to offer birthday congratulations in the capital.”

Jiang Hai said in surprise, “Is Your Highness talking about the Hengfang that produces ‘Peacock Gauze’?”

The youth in the carriage, whom he called ‘Prince,’ was none other than the current emperor’s fourth son, His Highness Wei Ming, titled Prince Duan. He let down the thin bamboo curtain and leaned back against the backrest, saying without much interest, “Peacock Gauze? What's that? Never heard of it.”

The moment this was mentioned, Jiang Hai immediately became animated. “Your Highness may not know, but this Peacock Gauze is the most sought-after and rarest fabric in Jade Capital. Last year, merchants from Qi Yun brought back a batch of Peacock Gauze from Hengfang, causing a scramble for it throughout the capital. Now, the fabric is priceless, with no supply to be found. Just using it to make a purse or a fan cover is a luxury. If someone were to wear clothes made of Peacock Gauze on the street, it would surely cause a sensation in the capital. Everyone would flock to see, and it would bring one glory for half a lifetime!”

Wei Ming: “…”

He couldn't stretch his legs in the carriage, so he turned sideways with some effort, shifting into a more comfortable position. He insincerely comforted Jiang Hai, “There's nothing so special about it. If you want, I can cast a spell later to turn you into a peacock. I guarantee you'll cause a bigger sensation than them.”

“…” Jiang Hai looked abashed and said sheepishly, “Haha, haha, Your Highness is quite the joker. You cultivate the secret arts of immortals; a mere mortal like me couldn't possibly withstand it… I beg you, Your Highness, please take back your divine powers.”

In the more than three hundred years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there had been many emperors and imperial clan members fond of Buddhism and Daoism, yet there had only been one prince who seriously devoted himself to immortal cultivation. The life story of Prince Duan, Wei Ming, could be called legendary, and it was hardly a secret inside or outside the imperial court.

His birth mother was originally a palace maid attending to Noble Consort Wu. Having chanced upon the emperor's favor, she unexpectedly conceived an imperial heir. Emperor Qiansheng did not have many children and was overjoyed upon hearing the news. He moved her to a new palace courtyard and promoted her to the rank of consort, waiting only for her to give birth to a prince. Who would have known that on the night of her labor, a sudden fire broke out in the West Palace, burning the entire palace to the ground. Wei Ming's birth mother suffered an excessive shock and died in difficult childbirth. All the imperial physicians determined that the infant in her womb could not possibly survive, but to everyone's astonishment, the child who should have died in the womb let out a faint cry amidst the blood.

After that soul-stirring night, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau hurriedly submitted a memorial at the next morning's court session, reporting that a red star had entered the Taiwei Enclosure at night, its light filling the Ziwei Star, only ceasing at dawn. Before long, a rumor quietly began to spread through the palace. It was said that before the fire, a palace attendant had personally witnessed a giant bird with wings that draped like clouds fly in from the horizon. It landed on the palace roof, cried out several times, summoning a red light that pierced the long sky, and only then did it spread its wings and fly away.

All these omens were connected to the newborn prince. As it concerned the Emperor's Star, this was no small matter. Everyone in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was trembling with fear, afraid that a single wrong word would cost them their heads. In the end, after a divination by Grand Preceptor Jinghui of the Zixiao Academy, whom the Emperor deeply relied upon, it was determined that the newborn prince possessed a peculiar fate that had led to celestial omens. To avoid influencing the Son of Heaven and the nation's fortune, it was suggested that this “strange star,” whose nature as auspicious or ominous was unknown, should live separately in another palace before the age of sixteen and not meet the emperor.

As a superstitious institution for the exclusive use of the imperial family, Zixiao Academy had stood firm for three generations. Their words were more effective than a divine oracle. Moreover, Emperor Qiansheng was a firm believer in occult arts and believed Jinghui's words without a doubt. He immediately ordered Wei Ming to be moved to Fangxin Garden in the West Palace, casually assigned a few palace attendants to care for him, and simply acted as if he had never had such a son.

Pitiful Wei Ming, an ignorant young child who should have been of noble imperial birth, fell from grace overnight. He lived a life worse than that of an ordinary child, growing up like a weed to the age of seven or eight. He couldn't recognize a single character, couldn't even speak fluently, and was completely clueless about matters of the imperial court. Let alone a “strange star,” even if the moon itself had fallen from the sky, sixteen years would have been enough to grind it down into a dull stone.

Fortunately, Heaven never seals off all exits. When Wei Ming was eight, a female Daoist priestess suddenly appeared out of thin air in the palace. She strolled leisurely into Ziji Palace as if entering an unmanned territory. The nearly one hundred practitioners of Zixiao Academy, plus the tens of thousands of Imperial Guard in the city, were stupefied and failed to stop her.

That lady's surname was Yuan, and her given name was Shixue. She was the leader of Changye Manor on Mount Ying, a legendary immortal mountain secret realm, and a remarkable woman whose methods and personality were both astonishingly straightforward. She came to Jade Capital for one purpose only: to take the little prince in the cold palace as her disciple, by name. And in front of Emperor Qiansheng, she delivered a harsh remark to Jinghui:

“For the ‘good deeds’ you've done, just wash your neck and wait. Someday, someone will naturally come to deal with you.”

After that day, Emperor Qiansheng's attitude toward Wei Ming underwent a strange change. Nine years later, when the seventeen-year-old Wei Ming returned to Jade Capital, he had completely grown into a handsome young man of outstanding bearing. Although he had not received a single day of the education a prince should have, his knowledge and talent were in no way inferior to the other imperial nobles. Even the palace attendants whispered amongst themselves, saying he was a rarely seen “immortal-like figure.”

The entire palace was in an uproar, but this was clearly not a result that everyone was happy to see. The more intelligent and outstanding Wei Ming became, the more it reminded Emperor Qiansheng of the strange celestial phenomenon of the “light filling the Ziwei Star” all those years ago, and the thorn of dread was driven ever deeper.

Due to various concerns, although Wei Ming returned to the palace at seventeen, he never truly returned to court. He claimed his heart was set on the Dao and he had no interest in worldly affairs. For the past five years, he had spent most of his time on Mount Ying cultivating immortality, only returning to the capital as custom dictated for important occasions like the Emperor's birthday. Seeing his sensibility, Emperor Qiansheng also, as per custom, granted him the title of prince and his own manor, tacitly maintaining the facade of a loving father and a filial son.

As for what kind of immortality he was cultivating, nobody really cared. Even Jiang Hai just thought he was joking.

“Seeing you today, Your Highness has grown much taller than last time,” Jiang Hai changed the subject, continuing to chatter on. “Steward Yi just had Sister Chunzhi cut new clothes for you two days ago using last year’s as a measure. The allowance is definitely not enough. We need to hurry back so you can try them on, otherwise there won't be time for alterations.”

Although Wei Ming was of noble imperial birth, he had been raised roughly and was not too picky about food or clothing. “It's not like I'm going to select a consort. No need to make such a big fuss. Just take your time with it. I'm a living person standing right here in the Prince's Manor, I'm not going to run away.”

Jiang Hai said, “I'm just afraid that once news of your return to the capital reaches the palace today, His Majesty will summon you immediately. Surely you can't enter the palace in casual clothes? Besides, in two days it's the Longevity Festival, and you'll have to have an audience with His Majesty. When that time comes, all the other princes will be dressed in gaudy reds and greens, vying to outshine each other, while you'll be plain and unadorned, looking less grand than a county squire. Would that be proper?”

His nagging gave Wei Ming a headache. “I know, I know. I'll try them on when we get back. This Prince will definitely dress up flamboyantly for the palace and not bring shame upon our Prince's Manor, alright?”

Although His Highness, Prince Duan, had a bumpy road in life, weak family ties, and lived in seclusion year-round, his temperament was surprisingly not solitary. Instead, he had an easy-going nature like a spring breeze on one's face. He could take a joke even from a young servant like Jiang Hai, and he was always pleasant and affable toward the servants of the Prince's Manor, never deliberately putting on airs or easily losing his temper with others. Thus, upon his return to the manor, he received a warm welcome from everyone, from top to bottom.

Wei Ming only returned once a year, so this day was no less than a festival for the people of the Prince's Manor. Steward Yi Dayou specially arranged a lavish family banquet, leading all the servants of the manor to take turns paying their respects and toasting him. The festivities continued until the moon was high in the sky before finally ending.

Returning to the inner courtyard, Wei Ming washed up and dismissed the servants, asking only Yi Dayou to stay. With his long hair unbound, he sat before the lamp, opening and reading letters one by one. Only now did he have time to discuss serious matters. “What is the recent situation in the capital?”

Yi Dayou had a slight limp in his right foot. Although he was a eunuch, his back was ramrod straight. He was born with a gentle face and a calm demeanor that made people feel close to him at first sight. “There is only one matter that requires Your Highness's attention. Two months ago, Grand Preceptor Jinghui of the Zixiao Academy suddenly requested to enter three years of secluded cultivation. Not only did His Majesty not try to make him stay, but he also appointed a newcomer to take his position. This person is named Chi Lian, no older than twenty-five or twenty-six. His methods are said to be quite formidable.”

Wei Ming raised an eyebrow slightly and let out a snort of laughter. “So accurate? Could it be that my master’s prediction actually came true, that Jinghui is getting his retribution?”

Yi Dayou said, “This servant has not yet been able to investigate his origins. His background and apprenticeship are completely unknown. He was initially recommended to His Majesty by Deputy Preceptor Ye Jintan. In the short two months since entering the palace, he has purged Jinghui's influence. Even Ye Jintan is no match for him. He is now firmly seated in the position of Grand Preceptor, a red-hot favorite before His Majesty. The Zixiao Academy has completely become a place where his word is law.”

Under the flickering candlelight, Wei Ming's profile seemed to be veiled in a light gauze. The light and shadow softened the sharp edges of his features, making his high, narrow nose bridge and his handsome, picturesque brows and eyes stand out even more. But what could not be concealed was the condescending, scrutinizing gaze in his eyes, which was colder and sharper than the edge of a sword.

“Interesting.” The tips of his brows curved slightly as he said playfully, “It would be a pity not to meet someone so capable.”

Author's Note:

Don't be fooled by the summary. Wei Ming is not a little spiritual fairy.